Kirsty MacColl

Kirsty MacColl, daughter of folk singer/songwriter Ewan MacColl, began her own musical career while still in her teens, singing in a band called the Addix, and eventually signed to the legendary Stiff Records. Her first single, the modern girl group gem, "They Don't Know," was released in 1979. Though it failed in the charts, it was later a major hit for Tracey Ullman. Kirsty MacColl switched to Polydor in the '80s and landed a U.K. Top 40 hit with the novelty song "There's a Guy Works Down the Chip Shop (Swears He's Elvis)." She followed the single with her first LP, Desperate Character, in 1981. In 1984, she married producer Steve Lillywhite and put her solo career on hold, raising their two children and working as a backup singer. MacColl returned in 1989 with a more mature effort, Kite, which reached the U.K. Top 40. Two more albums, Electric Landlady (1991) and Titanic Days (1993), displayed great talent and diversity and, above all, good pop sensibilities. On December 18, 2000, MacColl was killed by a speedboat while swimming off of the coast of Mexico. Less than six months later, her final album, Tropical Brainstorm, was released on Instinct. ~ Chris Woodstra, Rovi

"Don't go near the water" You sing about pollution yet how the hell do you think all of your musical instruments were made?,,,,in a factory you dumb-a**. what about your clothes and everyday items that you use? You people sing about pollution and how bad things are make me sick!

Couldn't agree more, Stellarviolet. I think she was really hitting her stride when she was killed. Tropical Brainstrom is pure genius. Not in these shoes. Not in this lifetime, either.

6 years ago

stellarviolet

I don't know which is sadder, her musical output or the fact that she is so under-appreciated. Tropical Brainstorm is brilliant - and shockingly missing from her 'selected works' - "Mambo de la Luna" has that wonderful happy/sad wistfulness, "Autumn Girl Soup" is so achingly spot-on, "Things Happen" captures the sweet devotion of a crush, "Celestine" is for those of us who know someone else is at the wheel more often than we'd like, "Treachery" is the other side

Kirsty is also well known for her fine collaborations. 'Fairytale Of New York' with the Pogues is amazing, and her backup vocals are all over several songs by The Smiths and Morrissey. One of the great female voices of all time. RIP.